MIN 2:1 PET | HC Dinamo Minsk - SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

KHL

Dinamo Minsk – SKA St. Petersburg

2:1 (2:1 after SO)

after shootout (2:1)

HC Dinamo Minsk Belarus

2:1 (0:0, 1:1, 0:0 - 0:0)

SKA St. Petersburg

Wednesday 24.12.2014, 17:30 • Minsk Arena • KHL

		Welcome. Game starts at 17:30.
		Good afternoon and welcome to this KHL regular season match between HC Dinamo Minsk and SKA Saint Petersburg. This should turn out to be a very even game, with Dinamo full of confidence at home.
		Not much was expected from Dinamo before the season got underway but they have been brilliant so far, securing themselves into sixth place of the Western Conference with 64 points. SKA are in third of the same conference on 83 points, but have won only one out of their past five outings.
		Last season Dinamo reached the Nadezhda Cup final, whereas SKA made the Gagarin Cup quarter finals.
		Starting lineups: HC Dinamo Minsk: Taylor (Milchakov)- Bailen, Goroshko, Kalyuzhniy, Cheechoo, Szczechura- Nogachyov, Kaznadey, Linglet, Ellison, Vesce- Lisovets, Shinkevich, Kulakov, Meleshko, Materukhin- Chernook, Drozd, Stepanov, Razvadovskiy SKA St. Petersburg: Koskinen (Ivannikov)- Kalinin, Rukavishnikov, Martensson, Ericsson, Thoresen- Kuteikin, N Belov, Ketov, Dadonov, Shipachyov- Chudinov, A Belov, Ponikarovskiy, Barabanov, Kadeikin- Y Alexandrov, Khafizullin, Kablukov, Burdasov, Khokhryakov Referees: Vladislav Kiselyov, Eduard Odins, Yuris Balodis, Yakov Paley.
		The teams are now being presented to the expectant crowd, and after the Belarusian and Russian national anthems we'll be getting underway!
	00:01	Game started.
	00:37	Here we go inside the Minsk Arena! The stadium is full to the brim, with a wonderful atmosphere here!
	01:39	Dinamo's Charles Linglet tricks his way to the right of the SKA crease, backhands it across dangerously, and no one is quick enough to get on the end of it
	02:29	We have a very early penalty here and it's been handed against the hosts, with defenceman Pavel Chernook being punished for interference
	04:29	SKA got themselves set up inside the attacking zone well but couldn't find any shooting opportunities, and Dinamo are back at full strength. Dinamo did look solid during that penalty kill!
	05:27	Khokryakov! SKA's new signing Pyotr Khokhryakov speeds down the right wing, takes on a rising wrister, and goaltender Danny Taylor gets his body in the way solidly!
	07:27	All the chances are being created by SKA early on, they're working the puck well deep towards Dinamo's goal, however the hosts are physically strong
	08:03	Jonathan Cheechoo drifts right, when falling on to his knees still gets an attempt away, and Mikko Koskinen is grateful to see it fly wide of the far post!
	11:14	Dinamo are slowly finding their feet and they've been rewarded with a powerplay, as SKA's Andrey Kuteikin has been called for hooking
	11:18	Bailen! Directly off that following faceoff draw Nick Bailen tries his luck from the point, and Mikko Koskinen fields his shot well to catch
	13:14	Not a lot was created during that time and SKA have five players on the ice again. It's been a rather tight period so far, with neither defence giving up much at all!
	15:19	We have a fight on our hands! Pavel Chernook has completely taken out SKA forward Evgeniy Dadonov, and his teammate Dmitriy Kalinin has gone over to him to have a few words, or more like a few punches! Both are off to the penalty box for roughing minors
	17:34	Koskinen! For the first time today Mikko Koskinen is called into serious action! Glove side he has to deal with two sharp wristers from point blank range. and he does excellently to block both of them!
	18:42	Kalyuzhniy! The momentum is well and truly with Dinamo now! Alexey Kalyuzhniy gathers up the puck at an awkward angle on the left he lashes it across, and after a cunning deflection the goaltender spreads himself big to cover!
	19:50	Just before the first period was about to end Dinamo are going to have to defend on the penalty kill again, as for high sticking against Vadim Shipachyov Paul Szczcheura has been penalised
	20:00	1st period finished.
		Statistics after the opening period of play: Shots: 13-10 Shots on target: 6-2 Faceoffs: 8-8 Hits: 7-9 Penalty minutes: 10-6
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:19	The second stanza is go! SKA haven't created an awful lot so far, however they are still on the powerplay for 01:50!
	21:01	Dmitriy Kalinin blasts the puck from the blue line, and he puts his hands up in triumphant fashion! It has been reviewed on video though, and it's a no goal! We play on at 0:0!
	21:50	Dinamo have survived that particular scare and are back at full strength, they had to weather some hairy moments there as SKA put the pressure on much better!
	23:45	Alexander Kadeikin dumps the puck in from deep, and Danny Taylor sweeps it up into his glove taking no chances. He can expect to have a lot more work to do as the game wears on!
	25:16	Nogachyov! Evgeniy Nogachyov finishes off a lengthy Dinamo attack by thrashing the puck through heavy traffic, and tumbling on to his chest Mikko Koskinen takes it up at the second attempt!
	25:57	Anton Burdasov takes up the loose puck on the right, pulls back out to the faceoff circle, and his off balance wrist shot is covered well by Danny Taylor
	27:06	Martensson! That was very close to finding its way in! Tony Martensson rather in hope that in expectation takes aim from the left hand boards, and only at the last minute does the goalkeeper react!
	27:32	Stepanov! Andrey Stepanov strips his opponent of the puck glove side, cuts to the slot all alone, and has his backhanded shut down by Mikko Koskinen! The openings are coming now!
	29:13	Nick Bailen lets a seriously powerful ripper go from the blue line, and with the puck crashing through plenty of bodies it's not far wide of the left hand post at all! The home fans rose in expectation there!
	29:35	Dinamo's discipline is letting them down at times and another penalty has been called against them, with forward Matt Ellison being found guilty of delaying the game
	31:36	As soon as Dinamo are back to full strength they've earned a man's advantage for themselves too! SKA defenceman Andrey Kuteikin has been handed a two minute minor for interference
	32:23	Nogachyov! Andrey Nogachyov thumps the puck with all his might blocker side from the point, and it smacks the side netting with some in the Minsk Arena thinking it had actually gone in! A goal is getting closer and closer!
	33:22	Cheechoo! That looked sure to go in! Jonathan Cheechoo is brilliantly picked out charging all alone to the right of the crease, and Mikko Koskinen makes a superb save near post!
	34:08	As SKA are back at full strength Dinamo have a two on one, Charles Linglet takes on the shot bearing down on the right, and he can only hit the netminder's midriff! Mikko Koskinen is on his game today!
	34:43	SKA's Vadim Shipachyov has too much pace for the entire Dinamo back line, one on one he opts to go with the backhand upstairs, but Danny Taylor reads his tactic to make the save!
	36:13	A goalmouth scramble erupts here as the puck is whacked in from the right flank, Alexey Ponikarovskiy hacks away for it, and in the end Danny Taylor manages to lay on it to kill the danger!
	36:31	Goal for SKA! There was a feeling that a goal was coming, and it's gone SKA's way! JIMMIE ERICSSON powers his way down the right wing, wrists near post, and he catches the netminder cold! It's 0:1! Assists- Dinar Khafizullin and Patrick Thoresen
	37:51	Goal for Dinamo Minsk! What a reply from Dinamo! The Minsk Arena explodes into life! NICK BAILEN twists around to the left faceoff circle, wrists with power, and Mikko Koskinen reacts too late to keep it out! It's 1:1! Assists- Alexander Kulakov and Dmitriy Meleshko
	39:09	Icing is committed by Dinamo. The hosts reacted so well to going behind, whereas SKA will be disappointed to having conceded so quickly after going ahead!
	39:51	With the puck flying from one end to another the final moments of the period are upon us, and it promises to be a fiery third coming up!
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Statistics after the first two periods: Shots: 32-33 Shots on target: 15-14 Faceoffs: 22-19 Hits: 13-11 Penalty minutes: 12-8
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	41:12	The third and deciding period is go! SKA will feel the need to poke their noses ahead again, but Dinamo are full of energy!
	42:08	Materukhin! What an opportunity to give Dinamo the lead for the first time today! Alexander Materukhin is picked out on his own on the doorstep, he twists directly around, and the emerging Mikko Koskinen makes a superb diving save to keep the game level!
	43:06	The referee has his arm up and it's for a penalty against SKA, as their forward Alexey Ponikarovskiy has been sent for a sit down as a result of tripping
	45:01	Charles Linglet winds up for a huge slapper on the left faceoff circle, however a defender closing it down takes the pace off it and Mikko Koskinen kicks it around into the boards
	45:06	SKA come back to full strength and again everyone is having to be calmed down! Anton Burdasov was pulled back when almost skating away clean through, and he didn't like that challenge at all!
	45:32	The visitors are beginning to get into penalty trouble here, and defenceman Dinar Khafizullin has been punished for interference against his opponent giving Dinamo their second powerplay on the bounce
	46:02	Bailen! Dinamo are keeping on the heat well! Seconds after Matt Ellison had the door shut in his face blocker side Nick Bailen twists to the opposite flank, and has the same result with his wristed shot!
	47:32	SKA are very relieved to see Dinar Khafizullin skate back out now to take them back to full strength. They're relying on their goaltender Mikko Koskinen to bail them out, he's on seriously good form!
	47:50	The referees aren't being given time in which to draw breath, and now Dinamo forward Sergey Drozd has made the home crowd very unhappy by being called for slashing
	49:22	Maxim Chudinov dumps the puck into the danger area from the blue line, Danny Taylor lets a rebound escape on, and he's lucky that his defencemen were on hand to clear!
	49:50	It's now a five on five hockey game again. It's starting to look as though it will be next goal wins, the margin of error is so fine today!
	51:56	Ponikarovskiy! Alexey Ponikarovskiy shows his strength bullying his way to the crease from a difficult angle on the right, a huge scramble erupts, and in the end the whistle is blown on the play with sticks flying everywhere!
	53:14	Kalinin! The loose puck rolls back to Dmitriy Kalinin at the blue line, he absolutely hammers it, and Danny Taylor's right pad reacts in time to get something on it! That was hit with some power!
	55:13	Dadonov! That was an ideal chance to perhaps give SKA all the points! Evgeniy Dadonov has a two on one on his hands down the right flank, he takes on this shot himself, and he's stoned by the goalkeeper's glove!
	57:33	Szczechrua! Wow, that had the Minsk Arena on its feet! Paul Szczechura bursts clean through, cuts left, and Mikko Koskinen makes a fantastic flying save to keep his team level!
	59:03	With already under a minute remaining Dinamo have taken a timeout. This game is really on a knife's edge, and any mistake could prove to be fatal!
	59:54	Jimmie Ericsson almost forces his way down one on one, but he's clattered into when shaping to shoot! SKA aren't happy at all, however no penalty has been called on the play!
	59:58	It is indeed going to be overtime here in Minsk, with no one wanting to give this one up at all! What a dramatic match it's been!
	60:00	3rd period finished.
		Statistics after the initial 60 minutes: Shots: 47-52 Shots on target: 24-25 Faceoffs: 32-27 Hits: 16-16 Penalty minutes: 14-12
	60:01	Overtime began.
	60:53	Here we go in overtime! Both teams have already earned at least a point for themselves, with five minutes of play now coming up! And if there will be no goals, it will be penalty shots!
	61:47	Thoresen! Patrick Thoresen shields the puck with the backhand, eventually lets an effort go, and it isn't far wide of the far post on the left! That was promising for SKA!
	62:03	The bobbling puck is thrown over SKA's defence, home forward Matt Ellison charges it down, and before he can take it under his spell Mikko Koskinen takes it up and freezes
	64:50	The final few seconds of overtime have already begun, and it does look as though penalty shots are going to have to decide the difference between these two!
	64:50	With a faceoff coming up deep inside Dinamo's zone SKA have taken a timeout, they know that this is a huge opportunity to take the win right here!
	65:00	Overtime finished.
		Penalty shots it is! It's been a hard fought battle out there, and if Dinamo are going to carry on their six game winning streak they're going to do it the hard way!
		Statistics after overtime: Shots: 48-55 Shots on target: 25-26 Faceoffs: 35-28 Hits: 17-16 Penalty minutes: 12-12
		Start of shootout.
	1. series 0:0	Patrick Thoresen skates up first for SKA, cuts blocker side, but can't force it beyond Danny Taylor's right pad!
	1. series 1:0	Here's Ryan Vesce for Dinamo, and he fires home into the right hand corner! 1:0!
	2. series 1:1	SKA's second taker is Evgeniy Ketov, and he cuts to the left before making it 1:1 expertly!
	2. series 1:1	The home crowd rises for Jonathan Cheechoo, however their home favourite lashes over the bar!
	3. series 1:1	Pyotr Khokhryakov skates in with pace, again goes blocker side, and can't force it home!
	3. series 1:1	Andrey Stepanov can win it here for Dinamo, but no! He's denied by a wonder Mikko Koskinen save on the line! Sudden death it is!
	4. series 1:1	Ryan Vesce, who has already hit the net, has his second attempt, but this time he can't beat Mikko Koskinen's right pad!
	4. series 1:1	Dmitriy Kalinin also misses, as he blasts over the right hand post with the backhand!
	5. series 2:1	Up steps Ryan Vesce again, and he scores exactly like he did the first time! 2:1!
	5. series 2:1	Evgeniy Ketov smacks the crossbar! It's all over now!
	65:00	HC Dinamo Minsk has won after the penalty shoot-out! RYAN VESCE scores the winning penalty shot!
		Game over.
		HC Dinamo Minsk have indeed seen off the challenge of SKA Saint Petersburg 2:1 after the penalty shootout! The hosts showed their character today, and can be satisfied with the two points. Nick Bailen's effort was added on to by Ryan Vesce's winning penalty shot, with Jimmie Ericsson grabbing SKA's only marker. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more exciting KHL action! (12:33:56)

Commentary by

Shaun Nicolaides

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 38. Bailen (Kulakov, Meleshko), dec. goal Vesce – 37. Ericsson (Khafizullin, Thoresen)

Shootout:

1. series:

0:0 Thoresen (PET)

1:0 Vesce (MIN)

2. series:

1:1 Ketov (PET)

1:1 Cheechoo (MIN)

3. series:

1:1 Khokhryakov (PET)

1:1 Stepanov (MIN)

4. series:

1:1 Vesce (MIN)

1:1 Kalinin (PET)

5. series:

2:1 Vesce (MIN)

2:1 Ketov (PET)

HC Dinamo Minsk: Taylor (Milchakov)- Bailen, Goroshko, Kalyuzhniy, Cheechoo, Szczechura- Nogachyov, Kaznadey, Linglet, Ellison, Vesce- Lisovets, Shinkevich, Kulakov, Meleshko, Materukhin- Chernook, Drozd, Stepanov, Razvadovskiy

SKA St. Petersburg: Koskinen (Ivannikov)- Kalinin, Rukavishnikov, Martensson, Ericsson, Thoresen- Kuteikin, N Belov, Ketov, Dadonov, Shipachyov- Chudinov, A Belov, Ponikarovskiy, Barabanov, Kadeikin- Y Alexandrov, Khafizullin, Kablukov, Burdasov, Khokhryakov

Referees: Vladislav Kiselyov, Eduard Odins, Yuris Balodis, Yakov Paley

1st period
	02:29
	11:14
	15:19
	19:50
1st intermission
2nd period
	29:35
	31:36
	36:31
	37:51
2nd intermission
3rd period
	43:06
	45:32
	47:50
After 3rd period
Overtime
before shootout
Shootout
	65:00
after shootout